Every year, Thomas donates his staff's time to process venison donated to the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger program sponsored by groups including Safari Club International, Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the state Department of Natural Resources.

The ground meat is delivered to The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, where it's distributed to shelters and food programs throughout the area.

Local sportsmen annually donate 10,000-20,000 pounds of meat to the program, said Food Bank President Bill Kerr.

"We've gotten deer culled from herds in county parks, truckloads of salmon from the DNR, state-harvested nuisance Canada geese cleaned and quick frozen," said Kerr. "It varies depending on the year, but it usually ends up literally tens of thousands of pounds of Michigan wild game processed into very needed protein for needy folks across the state."

In one record year, Thomas processed 8,400 pounds of donated venison and elk.

"We had 70 whole deer donated last year, and so far this year, already we've had 14 from archery and the first part of rifle season," said Thomas. "But most every hunter we deal with contributes. When they come in, we always ask if they'd like to donate a pound or two of burger and they almost always do."

"I feel as if the hunter should get something back in return so I give them the prime cut - the inside tenders and backstraps - and don't charge them anything," he said.

Rose Township hunter David Irwin made his first donation to the program this month. He ended up bringing in two by accident - literally -- when he witnessed a car-deer collision on his way to delivering a doe he'd taken during bow season on his 38-acre farm.

For about two weeks, Irwin had kept his eye on the injured doe, which appeared to have been hit by a car.

"She had a broken leg so bad the bone was sticking outside the skin so I knew she was in bad shape. But she had a yearling fawn with her so I wanted to wait to harvest her until I was sure it was going to be OK on its own," Irwin said.

He waited two more weeks before deciding to act.

"By then I could see the yearling was very healthy, foraging on its own. I made sure it was alert and wary and feeding - all those ingredients for survival."

He took the doe to a DNR check station near Holly, where wildlife biologists suggested he donate it to Thomas for processing.

He was driving there when a seven-point buck ran out into the path of an SUV right in front of him.

"The man and woman were real shook up. It totally ruined the front of their Blazer - they'd had it for six days," said Irwin. "I told them it was a blessing because it could've went through the windshield. A car can be replaced."

Irwin offered to help them salvage the venison, but when they turned it down, the police officer gave him a permit to take it to Thomas along with his doe.

"You give and take, that's the way it should be. I'm appreciative of what I have. That's why I do what I do," said Irwin.

That attitude helped

the program donate more than 34,000 pounds of meat statewide last year, said Dean Hall, president of Michigan Sportsmen against Hunger.

But donating wild game isn't the only way to help feed the hungry, Hall said. Sportsmen can also donate $1 through the state DNR when purchasing hunting and fishing licenses. They can also purchase a paid membership in MSAH, make monetary donations and donate nonperishables at sports shows and other events.